Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Line: Bromford

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what factors affected their decision to authorise an application for a Transport and Works Act Order to extend Bromford Tunnel as part of Part 1 of HS2, given they have denied a similar request to build a tunnel in place of a viaduct at Wendover on the same route; and whether an independent process is in place to determine if such an application can be made.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The decision to promote an extended tunnel at Bromford, and the decision not to promote a bored tunnel at Wendover, were taken by HS2 Ltd, as scheme developer, based on an analysis of the costs and benefits of each option, and in consultation with the Department for Transport as project sponsor. In the case of Wendover, this decision has been supported by additional independent analyses. The decision to apply for a Transport and Works Order (TWAO), as a legislative vehicle for enabling the extended tunnel at Bromford, was taken by HS2 Ltd and did not require specific authorisation from the Department. The Bromford Tunnel TWAO application was received by the Secretary of State on 20 January 2022 and will now be assessed in accordance with standard TWAO processes and relevant legislation.

Merchant Shipping: Medals

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether members of the Merchant Navy other than those in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary service will be eligible for the Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Platinum Jubilee Medal will be awarded to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and Armed Forces with five years’ service. Those in the Merchant Navy, apart from eligible members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, are not eligible. The Merchant Navy and fishing fleets will of course continue to be recognised through the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service state award.

Railways: Coronavirus

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects, if any, of the current reduction in rail services on those wishing to return to work in person.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department has been working closely with rail operators as they mitigate the impact of staff absences on rail services. The current temporary train timetable is providing passengers with certainty so they can plan their journeys confidently as they return to work in person. As staffing pressures ease and passenger demand increases, operators are increasing rail services accordingly to meet demand.

High Speed 2 Line: Leeds

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what prior noticethey gave to (1) Leeds City Council, its (2) councillors, and (3) officials, of their decision that HS2 would not run through the city as originally planned, before the public announcement of their decision.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government engaged with regional stakeholders, including Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, throughout the development of the IRP. The Integrated Rail Plan has set out that the Government will look at the best way for HS2 trains to serve Leeds alongside development of the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System.

Penrith (North Lakes) Station: Buildings

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 19 January (HL5520), whether they intend to (1) sell, or (2) retain, the former station master's house at Penrith North Lakes Railway Station; and if they intend to retain the house (a) whether it will be used for (i) residential accommodation, or (ii) a commercial purpose, and (b) what estimate they have made of the annual cost of retaining it.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department has no plans to return to use the former Station Master's house at Penrith North Lakes railway station.

Department of Health and Social Care

Blood: Donors

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new donors who identify as MSM (men who have sex with men) have (1) registered to donate, or (2) donated, blood since the introduction of thecurrent individualised risk-based policy of blood donation.

Lord Kamall: The information requested is not collected. The work of the For Assessment of Individualised Risk steering group and subsequent policy change was carried out to improve inclusivity in the blood donor selection criteria so that more people could be eligible to donate based on their health, travel and sexual behaviour.

Pregnancy: Sodium Valproate

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that those harmed by sodium valproate in pregnancy are supported by adequate health services following the recommendations by the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review,published on 8 July 2020.

Lord Kamall: If there is a need for those of childbearing age to take sodium valproate, their doctor will include them on the valproate pregnancy prevention programme. This is designed to make sure patients are fully aware of the risks and the need to avoid becoming pregnant.The National Health Service has commissioned the Paediatric Neurosciences Clinical Reference Group to support the development of pathways of care service specification to support improvements for patient support and co-ordination, ensuring vital targeted follow-up of infants at risk.A multi-disciplinary expert clinical group with experience in responding to and managing teratogen exposure has been established and will report its recommendations to NHS England and NHS Improvement in March 2022.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Secretary of State for Health’s announcement of a ‘booster programme on steroids’ on 30 November, how long it took for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice of 29 November on extending the COVID-19 vaccine booster programme, including halving the time between the primary course and the booster dose, to be fully implemented; and whether the booster programme is on track to vaccinate all eligible adults in England by the end of January 2022.

Lord Kamall: On 3 December 2021, NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to National Health Service systems on the implementation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s advice. The National Booking System was operational on 15 December 2021. Every eligible adult in England aged 18 years old and over was offered a COVID-19 booster vaccination by the end of 2021.

Travel: Coronavirus

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they did not introduce COVID-19 testing at UK ports of entry in March 2020.

Lord Kamall: In March 2020, testing capacity was limited and insufficient to deploy to all international arrivals. Doing so would have diverted testing capacity from patients in hospitals to asymptomatic arrivals, at a time when the virus was already circulating within the domestic population.

DNACPR Decisions

Lord Austin of Dudley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) doctors, or (2) other medical staff, are able to impose a do not resuscitate notice without the consent of (1) a patient, or (2) the patient's family.

Lord Austin of Dudley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) doctors, or (2) other hospital staff, are able to impose a do not resuscitate notice when a patient and their family have said they do not agree to such an order.

Lord Kamall: A patient or their family or advocate should be consulted before a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) form is completed for them. The patient’s wishes and preferences should be considered but a doctor or senior responsible clinician does not need the consent of the patient or their family to complete a form if they think CPR is not in the patient’s best interests. CPR is a medical treatment and clinicians do not have to provide a treatment if they think it will be unsuccessful or would cause greater harm, even if the patient or their family do not agree with the decision.The patient and their family should always be given the chance to understand what a DNACPR is, how the decision is made and why the doctor or medical staff in charge think CPR would not be a suitable treatment in their circumstance. If the patient, their family or advocate disagree with a DNACPR decision they can ask for a second opinion and a review.

Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome: Health Services

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) support, and (2) care for, those suffering fromFetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder.

Lord Kamall: Services for children with all neurodevelopmental disorders is primarily managed as local to the families as possible by multidisciplinary teams within local Child Development Centres. This ensures joined up local services across health, maternity, education and social care systems.The National Health Service has commissioned the Paediatric Neurosciences Clinical Reference Group to support the development of pathways of care service specification and to support improvements for patient support and co-ordination. Clear, structured communication between these teams will ensure targeted follow-up of infants at risk.A multi-disciplinary expert clinical group with experience in responding to and managing teratogen exposure has been established, chaired by Dr Charlie Fairhurst and will report its recommendations to NHS England and NHS Improvement in March 2022.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Kamall on 19 January (HL4883), why they are unable to identify losses on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Lord Kamall: The Department is seeking to recover monies paid to PPE Medpro in relation to a contract for the provision of gowns. Currently the parties are engaged in mediation and exploring whether it is possible to resolve the matter without formal legal action. The Department has not yet suffered a loss but may do so if it is unable to recover monies from PPE Medpro, either by agreement arising from mediation or pursuant to formal legal action.

Alcoholic Drinks: Labelling

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their proposed timescale for the consultation on requiring calorie labelling for alcoholic drinks.

Lord Kamall: We have committed to consult on our intention to introduce calorie labelling on pre-packaged alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants in due course. The consultation will include further details about the proposed timescale for implementation of the policy.

Euthanasia

Baroness Meacher: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed or accredited any (1) information, or (2) guidance, to support clinicians to care for a person living with a progressive or terminal illness who wishes to voluntarily stop eating and drinking with the intention of accelerating their death.

Lord Kamall: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a guideline Care of dying adults in the last days of life which makes recommendations on maintaining hydration, including taking into account the wishes of the person and discussing the risks and benefits of clinically assisted hydration. NICE has also published Shared decision making, which includes guidance on communicating risks, benefits and consequences. Additionally, NICE’s guideline Decision-making and mental capacity includes recommendations on advance care planning, including helping people to exercise their right to personal autonomy as far as possible. Copies of these guidelines are attached.Attachment 1 (pdf, 161.7KB)Attachment 2 (pdf, 217.3KB)Attachment 3 (pdf, 170.3KB)

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Hereditary Peers: By-elections

Lord Grocott: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether, when the Clerk of the Parliaments announces the winner of the hereditary peers’ by-election on 9 February, he will also announce the number of votes cast for each candidate in the final round of voting.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: As detailed information on the number of votes cast for each candidate is already freely available to members in the Printed Paper Office (PPO) and on the internet as soon as the announcement has been made in the Chamber, there are no plans for the Clerk of the Parliaments to announce this further detail in the Chamber.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Antarctica: Tourism

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, as a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, what assessment they have made of the practice of charter flights carrying tourists to the Antarctic.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Tourism is discussed annually at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM) and the UK engages actively to ensure all activities are conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Within the Antarctic Treaty System, all activities in Antarctica must be undertaken in accordance with the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which requires environmental impact assessments (EIA) and pre-planning to ensure activities are conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment. At its meeting in June 2021, the ATCM adopted a revised Resolution on Air Safety in Antarctica, which covers governmental and non-governmental air operations. The UK implements the Environmental Protocol and other obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System through the Antarctic Act 1994 (as amended by the Antarctic Act 2013), which generally requires British expeditions, ships and aircraft to obtain a permit from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, prior to entry into Antarctica.

China: Uyghurs

Lord Polak: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will update their business risk advisory systemregarding forced labour in the Uyghur region in China, in light of the conclusions of the Uyghur Tribunal, published on 9 December 2021.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Our overseas business risk guidance on Xinjiang was last updated in August 2021. It makes clear the extensive evidence of human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang, including the use of forced labour, and urges UK companies to take appropriate steps to ensure their operations do not directly or indirectly contribute to these violations. We continue to keep the guidance under constant review.

UNAIDS

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether continued close partnership with UNAIDS will play a role in their planned international development and global health strategies; and if so, how such a partnership would operate.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK remains committed to a strong UNAIDS and we are fully engaged in the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board which recently agreed the new Global Aids Strategy 2021-2026. Our partnership with UNAIDS contributes to our goal to end preventable deaths of mothers, new-born babies and children and to ensuring access to services for marginalised and vulnerable groups. Future funding to UNAIDS, beyond our current commitments, will be determined as part of departmental business planning in line with departmental allocations announced in last year's Spending Review.

India: Religious Freedom and Violence

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of India regarding (1) religious intolerance, and (2) violence, in that country; and what representations they have also made regardinghate speech by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they (1) have taken, or (2) are taking, or (3) are planning to take, to support (a) minority rights, and (b) religious tolerance, in India.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We condemn any instances of discrimination because of religion or belief, regardless of the country or faith involved. We look to India to uphold all freedoms and rights guaranteed in its strong constitution and by the international instruments to which India is a party. We engage with India on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with NGOs, to build capacity and share expertise to promote human rights for all. Where we have concerns, we raise them directly with the Government of India, including at ministerial level.The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network of Deputy High Commissions regularly meet religious representatives and have run projects supporting minority rights. The British High Commission supports a UK-India Interfaith Leadership Programme for a cohort of emerging Indian faith leaders, including Christians and Muslims, creating an opportunity to exchange expertise on leading modern, inclusive faith communities, and promote values of tolerance and multi-culturalism. The UK will host an international Ministerial conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2022 to energise collective efforts on this agenda. We also work with the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, G7 and other multilateral fora to promote FoRB.

Refugees: International Cooperation

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries have so far approved the UNHCR's Global Compact on Refugees; and what steps they are taking toencourage countries to do so.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) was agreed ("affirmed") on 17 Dec 2018 by UN General Assembly vote. Of the 193-member assembly, the compact was carried 181-2, with only a small number of abstentions. Whilst it is legally non-binding on Member States, the Compact represents an opportunity to strengthen international coordination and cooperation with refugees and the countries that host them.The UK remains committed to supporting refugees and enabling a longer term, more holistic approach to refugee assistance and protection that restores dignity and offers refugees a viable future. This includes regularly engaging with other States on a wide range of issues, including on engagement in the GCR. The next Global Refugee Forum will take place in December 2023.

Refugees: International Cooperation

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made as to whether countriesadhering to the UNHCR's Global Compact on Refugeesare required to give due priority to applications for family reunion.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK provides a safe and legal route to bring families together through its family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. Since 2015 we have granted over 39,000 family reunion visas - over half to childrenWhile the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) is not legally binding on member States, a key ambition of the compact is expanding access to "third countries" for refugees through resettlement and other pathways. This includes supporting refugees with scholarships, visas, and with family reunion. Within the "Complementary pathways for admission" process, states and relevant stakeholders seek to facilitate effective procedures and clear referral pathways for family reunification.

Refugees: International Cooperation

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the first high-level meeting of officials forthe UNHCR's Global Compact of Refugees took place in 2021; and if not, whenthey expect that meeting to take place.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Two years on from the first Global Refugee Forum, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Switzerland hosted a follow-on High-Level Officials meeting on 14 and 15 December 2021. With ever-increasing numbers of displaced persons across the globe driven by conflict, climate change and Covid-19, the meeting underlined the continued relevance of the Global Compact on Refugees.Giving the UK Statement, https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/minister-cleverly-intervention-at-global-compact-on-refugees-high-level-officials-meetingMr Cleverly, the Minister for the Middle East, North Africa and North America, confirmed the UK's commitment to delivering on the Global Compact and to support forcibly-displaced persons through a holistic approach which restores dignity and offers a viable future. The Minister highlighted the UK's strong track record of helping those who need protection, and the significant support provided by the UK to the world's largest refugee crises. The next Global Refugee Forum will take place in December 2023.

International Organization for Migration and UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the work of (1) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and (2) the International Organization for Migration.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a key partner for the UK providing protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees and other displaced persons, particularly in developing countries. UNHCR is a particularly important partner for the UK in refugee emergencies and has a crucial role in situations of Internal Displacement. The UK continues to be a strong supporter of UNHCR and provided £56 million in funding across bilateral and multilateral channels in 2021. Furthermore, we play a central and influential role through our engagement in UNHCR's Executive Committee and other governance fora.The UK is a strong supporter of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The UK plays a significant role in the governance of the IOM as a member and active participant in the IOM Council and other governance fora, and engaging regularly in dialogues on strategy, policy, and programming. The UK is also a significant funder of the IOM, and in 2021 provided approximately £75 million in core funding and bilateral support to country programmes, making the UK the IOM's third largest donor. The IOM works in over 100 countries, providing transportation, repatriation, and humanitarian assistance to forced migrants, Internally Displaced Persons, refugees and other vulnerable groups in crises, and the UK's support and engagement contributes to this work.

Crimes against Humanity

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they collect on genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; and how they process this evidence to assist with prosecutions.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The United Kingdom supports various expert bodies that collect evidence of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In 2016 the UK co-sponsored a UN General Assembly Resolution which established the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM). The IIIM seeks to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the most serious crimes under international law in Syria since March 2011. On 21 September 2017, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to adopt UK-drafted Daesh Accountability Resolution 2379. The resolution called for the UN to establish an Investigative Team to collect preserve and store evidence of Daesh crimes. The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, established by the UN Human Rights Council, is mandated to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law and prepare files for criminal prosecution. In collaboration with Germany and Denmark, we led the creation of the independent NGO-led International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB), which launched in March 2021. The IAPB aims to 'collect, consolidate, verify, and preserve evidence of gross human rights violations constituting crimes under international law allegedly committed by Belarusian authorities and others in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and its aftermath' with a view to enabling those responsible to be held to account in future legal processes through appropriate competent courts.

Amal Nakhleh

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerning the administrative detention of Amal Nakhleh since November 2020.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of Amal Nakhleh's case. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees.

Omar Abdalmajeed As'ad

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerning the death of 80-year-old Omar Abd al-Majid As’ad in Jiljilya on 12 January.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have urged the Israeli authorities to carry out a swift and thorough investigation. We have called on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian detainees. We remain committed to working with Israel to secure improvements to detention practices.

Israel: Bedouin

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatdiscussions they have had withthe government of Israel concerning reports of clashes in the Negev desert between Israeli police and Bedouin over afforestation activities.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are closely following the debate around the issue of unresolved Bedouin land claims, unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev and lack of basic services. We continue to encourage the Israeli authorities and Bedouin communities to engage in dialogue to agree a satisfactory solution to the issue, respecting the rights of the people affected.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerningreports of the destruction of Palestinian agricultural landfor military training purposes.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of reports of destruction of agricultural land and the UK raises this issue with Israeli counterparts when appropriate. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Birzeit University

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerning the storming of Birzeit Universityby Israeli forces on 10 January and the arrests of members of the student union.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law. We also continue to urge the Israeli Government to fully respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of educational institutions, including reiterating the importance of freedom of speech.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of weaponised unmanned aerial vehicles; and what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the use of such weapons in the Occupied Territories.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have an ongoing dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation.

Humanitarian Aid: Refugees

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their aid and humanitarian programmes are designed to encourage self-help by refugees; and if so, how.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The key principle underpinning the UK's approach to supporting displaced people is the need for longer-term interventions that go beyond solely lifesaving humanitarian support. This includes a focus on providing opportunities for sustainable jobs, livelihoods, education, and access to other essential services for people affected by conflict, displaced people, and the communities that host them. The UK has been consistently one of the largest bilateral humanitarian donors globally. In response to the increasingly protracted nature of displacement crises, the UK works with international partners on innovative long-term solutions.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment Schemes: Disability

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have increased the number of Disability Employment Advisors at Job Centres in the last 12 months.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: As at December 31st 2021 DWP had 894.9 full time equivalent FTE (ABM activities1) employees carrying out the Disability Employment Advisor role. This is an increase of 441.3 FTE since January 2021 where the number stood at 453.6 FTE. 1FTE (ABM activities) is from Departmental Management Information which records how much of each persons’ role is spent doing certain types of work activity. The FTE (ABM activities) is therefore lower than the total staff in post.

Social Security Benefits

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has to meet with the group of bereaved families calling for an independent public inquiry into deaths and serious harm related to the benefits system.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Secretary of State and her ministerial team regularly meet external stakeholders to gain insight into customers’ experiences of the benefits system, and to determine how it might be improved. The Department’s key obligation is to ensure that claimants receive the benefits that they are entitled to, in a timely manner. We are committed to learning from cases where there is suggestion or allegation that the Department’s actions or omissions may have negatively contributed to the customer’s circumstances. We conduct internal retrospective investigations (known as Internal Process Reviews) to capture these lessons and take them forward to inform future policy and service. There also exists a wide, independent and transparent system for investigating such cases, including the Independent Case Examiner, the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman and (where engaged) Coroners’ Courts in England and Wales.

Department for Work and Pensions: Coroners

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases have been reported to the Department for Work and Pensions via the coroners focal point since February 2020.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: From February 2020 to January 2022, 46 cases have been raised via this channel. This figure includes enquires made by the police and other bodies, and erroneous referrals where we signposted the enquirer elsewhere as appropriate.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Marine Environment: North Yorkshire

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of the cause of the mass loss of sea-life around the North Yorkshire coast, particularly in regards to Teesport and Scarborough; and whether any link has been found to reports of dogs falling ill after going into the sea.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Defra, Cefas, the Marine Management Organisation and the Environment Agency (EA), along with other agencies, are continuing to collaborate on the investigation into the cause of crab and lobster deaths along the Tees Valley including Teesport and Scarborough. The EA and Cefas have undertaken extensive tests to try to determine the cause and are reviewing the evidence gathered since the start of this incident. It has not yet been possible to identify a definitive cause. Additional testing has been undertaken and the latest results are awaited. Cefas found no evidence of disease, and chemical pollution was previously ruled out by the Environment agency as a likely cause of the mortality. Defra is aware of reports of dogs falling ill at several dog-walking locations including local beaches. The Animal and Plant Health Agency has been alerted about these reports. We are not aware of any link with the crab and lobster mortality in the area late last year.

Animals: Customs

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have tocarry out checks at the border to ensure that (1) a pet animal is the same as the animal listed on the pet passport, (2) the animal is the age stated, and (3) there are no welfare concerns about the animal.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All non-commercial dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain (GB) on approved routes (every route other than the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers. To enter GB pets must have been implanted with a microchip or have a legible tattoo imprinted prior to 3 July 2011. A pet’s identity is checked by ensuring that the microchip or tattoo details correspond to the details in the pet’s documentation, which includes the date of birth of the pet animal. Carriers can refer suspected non-compliances to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), including cases where any dog appears underage. APHA staff are highly trained to deal with intercepted shipments. Animal welfare legislation requires that when animals are transported their transportation must comply fully with legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare, such as: they must be fit for the intended journey; they must be transported in the appropriate conditions; and, when transportation is for a commercial purpose, the transporter must hold a GB authorisation. APHA works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the Pet Travel rules, disrupt illegal imports, safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant animals. The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 8 June 2021 and completed committee on 18 November 2021. The Bill allows us to further protect the welfare of pets by introducing restrictions to crack down on the low welfare movements of pets into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel and the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation.

Pets: Travel

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to shift the focus of enforcement of pet travel legislation from carriers to a qualified animal professional working for a government agency.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Carriers work closely with operational colleagues at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Border Force and are committed to preventing illegal imports of pet animals. Authorised pet checkers are trained by APHA prior to being granted approval and receive annual audits of their checking and processing to ensure they uphold our requirements. APHA regularly reviews its border enforcement work against known travel trends of those that seek to illegally import puppies to the UK, to keep pace with this rapidly evolving criminal activity. Part of this work includes intelligence-led targeting of suspected smugglers, alongside partner agencies, including Border Force. Border Force operates a 24-hour service seven days per week and alerts APHA to suspected non-compliant dogs and puppies. Targeted intelligence-led work often takes place outside of normal working hours as needed. The Government is satisfied with the workings of these current arrangements.

Home Office

Asylum

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent estimate they have made of the number of asylum applications pending initial decision.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum applications awaiting an initial decision are published in table Asy_04 of the asylum ‘summary tables’.The published data show that, as at 30 September 2021, there were 67,547 asylum applications awaiting an initial decision.The latest data are as at 30 September 2021. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’. The ‘contents’ sheet of the summary tables contains an overview of all available data on asylum. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.

Visas: Uyghurs

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create a bespoke humanitarian visa scheme for Uyghurs.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights and will continue this record.We already welcome vulnerable people in need of protection to the UK through our resettlement schemes. These schemes have provided safe and legal routes for tens of thousands of people to start new lives in the UK.While we sympathise with the many people facing difficult situations around the world, we have no plans to introduce a bespoke humanitarian visa scheme for Uyghurs.

Windrush Compensation Scheme

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to expedite the processing of Windrush Compensation Scheme claims.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The changes we made to the Scheme in December 2020 means people now receive significantly more money more quickly and this has had an immediate beneficial impact.Within six weeks of the changes being announced, we had offered more compensation than we had in the first 19 months of the Scheme. As of the end of October, the Home Office has paid more than ten times the total amount paid prior to the changes being announced and offered an average of £3.1 million per month.We are processing claims as quickly as possible - this is our priority. However, we recognise we have more to do to decrease the time between submission and decision on claims.To do this we are recruiting an additional 30 caseworkers, directing resources to maximise final decision output and refining our processes so cases progress as quickly as possible, including revising our data-sharing agreements with other departments.Wherever possible, we will make a preliminary payment as soon as someone applying on their own behalf, or on behalf of someone who has sadly passed away, can show any impact on their life under the terms of the Scheme. Individuals do not have to wait for their whole application to be assessed in order to receive a preliminary payment.We have taken steps to encourage more people to submit a claim and to help those who already have:- We have removed the end date of the Scheme to ensure that no one is prevented from making a claim if they are eligible.- We have also launched a package of support to help those making, or who have already made, claims on behalf of a relative who has passed away to obtain the legal documentation required to process their claims.- In addition, we have published a redesigned primary claim form which is easier for people to complete, and refreshed casework guidance which sets out clearly how caseworkers should apply the balance of probabilities and go about gathering evidence, with the aim of reducing the time taken to process claims and improving peoples’ experiences of applying to the Scheme.

Coronavirus: Fines

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were fined for breaking the rules during all of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Data on the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued under the COVID-19 regulations by police forces in England and Wales is collected by policing and published by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) on their website.The latest publication to 19 December 2021 was published on 11 January 2022 and can be found here: Update on the national police absence rate and Coronavirus FPNs issued by forces in England and Wales (npcc.police.uk). Police in England and Wales have processed a total of 118,963 FPNs for coronavirus breaches.

Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen support for victims of domestic abuse.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In the coming months, the Home Office will publish a strategy dedicated to tackling domestic abuse. It will be informed by the 180,000 responses received to the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Call for Evidence. The strategy will seek to transform the whole of society’s response to domestic abuse in order to prevent offending, support victims and pursue perpetrators, as well as to strengthen the systems in place needed to deliver these goals.Some of the steps the Home Office has taken to strengthen support so far include:An additional £2 million in funding for domestic abuse organisations to ensure that vital helplines and online services continue to be easily accessible throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Investing £25m towards preventing and combatting perpetrators (2021/2022).Continuing to fund a range of essential victim support services, including ‘by and for’ specialist services to victims of abuse, including those from minoritized backgrounds, children, elderly victims and victims with disabilities.Launching a new Ask for ANI Codeword scheme in January 2021 to enable victims to seek safe and discreet support from participating pharmacies.For 2021/22, the Ministry of Justice will provide £150.5 million to meet the additional needs of services for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. As announced at the Budget, Ministry of Justice funding for support services will increase to £185 million by 2024/25.Our Domestic Abuse Act became law in April 2021. This is a truly game changing piece of legislation which will transform our response to victims in every region in England and Wales and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. In addition to this, a revised National Statement of Expectations will be published to provide clear and consistent guidance for local areas on how to commission all forms of victim support services.

Undocumented Migrants

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthe screening of illegal immigrants includes a comparison with biometric details held by the EU in order to detect the entry of terrorists into the UK.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Illegal migrants detected in the UK are subject to comprehensive identity and security checks, including biometric checks.

Refugees: Temporary Accommodation

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rooms have been offered to house refugees in each nation of the UK; and how many rooms have been taken up by refugees in each nation of the UK.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The information is not readily available/held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage discount was negotiated by the Home Office with hotels in London that accommodated Afghan refugees; and what consideration was given during negotiations to the relatively low occupancy rate hotels have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Accommodation costs are considered to be commercially confidential so we do not provide this information.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will select those who are currently in Afghanistan to take part in the Afghans Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) commenced on 6 January 2022 and will provide up to 20,000 women, children and others at risk with a safe and legal route to resettle in the UK.We helped over 15,000 people to safety in the emergency evacuation under Operation PITTING and have continued to bring people to the UK, with around 1,500 people helped to enter since the evacuation.From Spring 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will refer refugees to the scheme, based on assessments of protection need.In the first year, the Government will honour its commitments to resettle those British Council contractors and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni who are most at risk under the ACRSThere will not be an application process for the ACRS. Instead, eligible people will be prioritised and referred for resettlement through one of three ways.More detail can be found on GOV.UK.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Rented Housing: Evictions

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherlandlords are required to give tenants without fault the booklet How to Rent before seeking to evict them; and if so, whether they can do this at the same time as issuing a Form 6A notice seeking possession of a property let on an assured shorthold tenancy.

Lord Greenhalgh: Under the Deregulation Act 2015, landlords cannot use the Section 21 possession procedure if they have not provided a copy of the publication “How to rent: the checklist for renting in England” to the tenant. The restriction is lifted as soon as the publication is provided. However, the How to Rent guide should ideally be provided at the outset of the tenancy. Form 6A is the legally prescribed form for serving a notice requiring possession under the Section 21 possession procedure.In respect of individual cases, it is for a court to decide whether the landlord had complied with the requirements of the Deregulation Act when they served a notice requiring possession using Form 6A, and therefore if that notice is valid. The landlord must provide evidence that they have given the tenant a valid copy of “How to rent: the checklist for renting in England” when they make a claim for possession in the county court.This requirement applies to tenancies in England which commenced on or after 1 October 2015. It does not apply where a landlord is a private registered provider of social housing or where the tenant entered into occupation of the property under a previous tenancy and the landlord has already provided the tenant with an up-to-date version of the guidance.

Scotland Office

Coronavirus: Scotland

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to help support Scotland's recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The UK Government’s furlough and self-employed support schemes supported more than 900,000 Scottish jobs at their peak and more than 100,000 Scottish businesses have benefitted from £4 billion of UK Government Covid loans. Going forward, the Government is directly investing £191 million in Scotland through the Community Renewal Fund, Community Ownership fund and Levelling Up Fund. The UK Government is also investing billions of pounds to help people of all ages back into work, including through our £2 billion kickstart scheme.

Treasury

Cost of Living

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to postpone the health and social care levy to help with the expected increase to the cost of living in spring this year.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government is committed to responsible management of the public finances. That is why we have taken the tough but responsible decision to increase taxes in order to fund a significant increase in permanent spending on the NHS and social care.A levy charged on the National Insurance contributions base is the fairest way to raise the funds needed to support health and social care. The highest earning 15 per cent will pay over half the revenue raised from the Levy and 6.1 million people earning below the Primary Threshold (equivalent to £9,880 in 2022-23) will not pay the Levy.The Government is providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help families with the cost of living. We are cutting the Universal Credit taper to make sure work pays, freezing alcohol and fuel duties to keep costs down, and providing support to help households with the costs of essentials.In addition, the Plan for Jobs is helping people get into work and gain the skills they need to progress – the best approach to managing the cost of living in the long term.

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the proposed alcohol duty system will impact on their ability to cover the costs of alcohol to (1) the NHS, and (2) on society.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government intends to move to a new system that taxes all products in reference to their alcohol content for the first time. This will help to target problem drinking by taxing higher-strength products associated with alcohol-related harm a higher rate of duty. The Government is continuing to engage with interested stakeholders, including public health professionals, on these reforms. A consultation was launched in October and stakeholders are encouraged to respond before the deadline of 30 January 2022. A tax information and impact note will be published following the consultation when the policy is final, or near final, in the usual way.

Wealth: Taxation

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the letter from 102 millionaires and billionaires to attendees to the World Economic Forum in Davos, calling for the introduction of wealth taxes.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government has noted the open letter and the suggestion of an annual wealth tax. The Government is committed to a fair tax system in which those with the most contribute the most. For example, the UK’s progressive Income Tax system means the top 1 per cent of Income Taxpayers are projected to pay 28 per cent of all Income Tax, and the top 5 per cent are projected to pay 49 per cent in the year 2021-22.The UK does not have a single wealth tax, but it does have several taxes on assets and wealth. The UK already taxes assets and wealth across many different economic activities, including the acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of assets, and income derived from assets. Notably, in 2020 the Wealth Tax Commission, which has no connection or link to the Government, found that if considering Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty, and Stamp Duty Land Tax, the UK is among the top of the G7 countries for wealth taxes as a percentage of total wealth. The Wealth Tax Commission also concluded that an annual wealth tax, reportedly suggested by the UK branch of the group behind the letter, would not be effective because of high administrative costs relative to revenue and ease of avoidance. It is also clear that the Wealth Tax Commission’s suggestion of a potential one-off wealth tax in the UK would be a complex undertaking and the amount of revenue raised would be highly dependent on the final design of the tax.It is also the case that any individual or private business wishing to make a greater contribution to the Exchequer can make voluntary payments to HM Government. More information about how to do so is available on GOV.UK.

Home Shopping: Taxation

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce an online sales tax; and, as part of any such plans, whether they intend to hold consultative forums with small businesses, including booksellers.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: At Autumn Budget 2021, the Government announced that it will continue to explore the arguments for and against an Online Sales Tax (OST). No decisions on whether to proceed with an OST have yet been made. If implemented, the revenue from an OST would be used to provide business rates relief for in-store retail. The consultation will launch shortly. The Government would welcome views and evidence from a range of stakeholders, including small businesses and booksellers. Details of how interested stakeholders can engage with the process will be published alongside the consultation.

Cryptocurrencies

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to accelerate registration with the Financial Conduct Authority of companies involved in the crypto sector.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: To comply with the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs), cryptoasset firms must demonstrate systems, controls, policies and procedures adequate to deal with the particular risks of the cryptoasset market; any officers, managers and beneficial owners must be fit and proper; and they are required to register with the FCA for the purposes of money laundering supervision.In some cases, the FCA has needed to request additional information from firms when applications contained insufficient supporting information and evidence. The application process for cryptoasset firms has therefore taken longer than originally anticipated.The government does not believe it would be appropriate for the FCA to relax the standard against which firms are assessed. To do so would risk undermining the UK’s high anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards. To manage delays in the processing of applications for registration, the FCA has established the Temporary Registration Regime. It allows existing cryptoasset firms, which had applied to be registered with the FCA by 16 December 2020, to continue trading whilst their applications are assessed. This has prevented undue disruption to established cryptoasset businesses and their customers, whilst ensuring all firms are subject to a rigorous assessment process.

Cost of Living

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what fiscal steps they will take to reduce the impact on households of the rise in the cost of living.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The government is providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help families with the cost of living. We are cutting the Universal Credit taper rate to make sure work pays, freezing alcohol and fuel duties to keep costs down, and providing support to help households with the costs of essentials through the £500m Household Support Fund. In addition, the government’s Plan for Jobs is helping people into work and giving them the skills they need to progress – the best approach to managing the cost of living in the long term. The government is building on the success of the Plan for Jobs with a total of £6 billion for the three years from 2022-23 to 2024-25. This includes:Providing targeted additional support to help at risk groups find work, including younger and older age groups, the long-term unemployed and people with disabilities.Continuing to invest over £900m for each year of this Spending Review on work coaches, to ensure UC claimants receive the best support to find employment.

Money Laundering

Lord Stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the September 2021 report of the Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision, what plans, if any, they have to ensure that (1) the 80 per cent of bodies identified as having failed to implement an effective risk-based approach to anti-money laundering do so without delay; and (2) the 66 per cent of bodies identified as not having or having only ineffective systems for recording sector risk profiles, move swiftly to develop them.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Since 2018, the Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) has worked with the accountancy and legal sector professional body anti-money laundering supervisors (PBSs) to increase the consistency of their anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) supervision and facilitate increased intelligence and information sharing. OPBAS has independently assessed how each PBS carries out their AML/CTF supervisory responsibilities. In its third report, published in September 2021, OPBAS found that although PBS compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations continues to improve, there were some weaknesses in the effectiveness of their supervision, including risk assessment, governance and enforcement. OPBAS noted significant improvements in PBSs’ technical compliance, driven in part by PBSs’ positive response to action plans drawn up as a result of the first annual report. However, OPBAS will continue to work with individual PBSs to address issues identified in the third report. In addition, HM Treasury is currently reviewing the UK’s AML/CFT regulatory and supervisory regimes.

Cryptocurrencies

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of (1) the size of the market for (a) cryptocurrencies, and (b) other digital assets, in the UK, and (2) the need for legislation to facilitate a well-regulated market of these; whether they have any plans to introduce legislation in order to regular this market; and if so, what is the timetable for that legislation.

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what their timetable is to (1) determine, or (2) create, an appropriate regulatory authority with afull regulatory perimeter for crypto assets.

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the skills in the workforce of regulatory authorities in relation to crypto assets.

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toexpand consumer protection in relation to crypto assets, in particular through access to the (1) Financial Ombudsman Service, and (2) Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Lord Cromwell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toteach consumers about the (1) nature, (2) taxation, and (3) levels of protection of digital assets, such as crypto currency; in particular, including throughmaking the rules about advertising such digital products consistent with other risk assets.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government established a Cryptoassets Taskforce in 2018, consisting of HM Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The Cryptoasset Taskforce is responsible for assessing developments in the cryptoasset market, and deciding what, if any, regulation is required in response. HM Treasury and UK authorities have taken a series of actions to support innovation while mitigating risks to stability and market integrity. These include launching a new anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime for cryptoassets in 2020; and consulting on a proposal to ensure cryptoassets known as ‘stablecoins’ meet the same high standards expected of other payment methods. The Government will issue its response to this consultation shortly. On 18 January 2022, the Government announced its intention to legislate later this year to bring certain cryptoassets into the scope of financial promotions regulation, requiring them to be fair, clear and not misleading. This is aimed at improving consumers’ understanding of the risks and benefits associated with cryptoasset purchases, and ensuring that cryptoasset promotions are held to the same high standards as broader financial services products. Consumer research conducted by the FCA in 2021 estimated that 2.3 million people in the UK currently hold cryptoassets. The FCA has announced plans for an £11 million digital marketing campaign to educate consumers on the risks associated with certain high-risk investments, including cryptoassets. Profits from trading in and gains from disposing of cryptoassets are taxed in the same way and at the same rate as those from other assets. HMRC’s Cryptoassets Manual, one the most detailed publications from any tax administration, explains the tax consequences of different types of transactions involving cryptoassets for both businesses accepting them and individuals using them. Cryptoassets are unregulated; this means they are not subject to consumer protection regulation and investors will not have recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service, or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The Government does not currently plan to create a new regulator for cryptoassets. The Government launched a consultation on its regulatory approach to cryptoassets and stablecoins on 7 January 2021. It proposed new regulatory responsibilities for the FCA, Bank of England and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR).

Non-fungible Tokens

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create aregulatory framework for non-fungible tokens.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: There is not a dedicated regulatory framework for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the UK. On 18 January, the government announced its intention to legislate later this year to bring certain cryptoassets into the scope of financial promotions regulation; however, the government explained that NFTs will not be brought into financial promotions regulation. The consultation response noted: NFTs may represent a wide array of different assets which might constitute non-financial services products. Additionally, as the NFT market is evolving rapidly and remains at an early stage of development, the government does not yet have sufficient information on risks and use-cases. As such, seeking to bring NFTs into scope might have unintended consequences for the market. Instead, the government will continue to closely monitor market developments, and stands ready to take further legislative action if required.

Business: Coronavirus

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report HMRC responses to inaccurate claims,published on 12 January, what is the methodology for estimating the amount lost to fraud and error; what is the value of these claims; and what is the forecasted expenditure for such claims, for (1) the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (2) the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme phases 1 to 3, and (3) the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government introduced unprecedented COVID support, helping millions of people across the UK. The schemes were designed to protect against Error and Fraud (E&F) by only making grants to individuals and businesses matched to information already on HMRC systems wherever possible, preventing ineligible claims, blocking suspicious claims up front, and investing in post-scheme compliance. The latest E&F estimates and expenditure across the COVID-19 support schemes are included in HMRC’s 2021 Annual Report and Accounts, released on 4 November 2021, which can be found on the gov.uk website. HMRC has published a technical document alongside the Annual Report and Accounts 2020 to 2021 detailing the methodology for measuring E&F in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) phases 1 to 3, and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (EOHO). This can be found on the gov.uk website. HMRC aim to produce updated E&F estimates for CJRS and SEISS by Summer 2022. HMRC are taking tough action to tackle fraudulent behaviour. Anyone who keeps money despite knowing they were not entitled to it, faces repaying up to double the amount, plus interest, and potentially criminal prosecution in serious cases. HMRC established the Taxpayer Protection Taskforce and is estimated to recover approximately £800 million to £1 billion in the two years to 2022-23, on top of around £500 million recovered in the year 2020-21. HMRC will continue to address fraud and error in the schemes beyond the duration of the taskforce.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Arts: Self-employed

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, toengage directly with creative freelancers in a similar manner to their engagement with creative industries through regular meetings with the Creative Industries Council.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Government is well aware of the great contribution freelancers make to the creative industries, and to our society and economy more widely. We are reviewing the scope of the Creative Industries Council to ensure it has appropriate representation, and so that it can be a voice for the full range of people working in the creative industries. We will be gathering views from a wide range of relevant parties to inform this work, including creative freelancers. In addition, we are consulting freelancers on the challenges they face through the Independent Review on Job Quality in the Creative Industries.

Cricket: Racial Discrimination

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they will take, alongside sporting bodies and associations, to tackle racism in cricket.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Racism has no place in cricket, sport, or wider society. The Government is committed to ensuring that sports bodies do all they can to tackle racism and all forms of discrimination.In December 2021 DCMS’s arm’s-length bodies UK Sport and Sport England published an updated version of the Code for Sport Governance. As part of this, sports at Tier Three of the Code are required to publish an annual diversity and inclusion action plan with Sport England and/or UK Sport.Sport England, UK Sport, and the other sports councils across the UK also published the results of a detailed, independent review into tackling racism and racial inequality in sport. In December 2021, the five Sports Councils released a joint update outlining the current actions being taken to address the commitments.The Government welcomes the recent developments from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC). We will continue to monitor their actions, including the implementation of the ECB’s new plan for diversity and inclusion and YCCC’s pledge to work with it on a game-wide diversity and inclusion action plan.The Government will continue to liaise with the cricket authorities on tackling racism and hold them to account on this. We reserve the right to take further measures if necessary.

Derby County Football Club: Finance

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatdiscussions they have had about the future of Derby County Football Club; what assessment they have made, if any, of allegations of financial mismanagement at that club; and what assessment they have made of the impact, if any, on the (1) players, (2) coaches, and (3) fans.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Government continues to engage closely with the English Football League (EFL) about Derby County Football Club. It is for the EFL, the administrator, and the club to resolve issues to ensure the survival of Derby County FC, but the Government has urged pragmatism from all parties to find a solution for the benefit of fans, staff, and the community that the club serves. The EFL must preserve the integrity of the league on behalf of all member clubs, but all parties want to see one of the founding members of the Football League continue this season and beyond under appropriate ownership.The Fan-Led Review of Football Governance, commissioned by the Government, made proposals directly addressing how to prevent clubs ending up in such difficult financial situations. We have endorsed in principle the primary recommendation of the review: that football requires a strong, independent regulator to secure the future of our national game. The Government is now working swiftly to determine the most effective way to deliver an independent regulator, and any powers that might be needed.

Social Media: Harassment and Racial Discrimination

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide (1) support, and (2) advice, for those who experience (a) racial discrimination, (b) harassment, and (c) racial hatred, on social media platforms.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Under the Online Safety Bill, services in scope will need to have effective systems in place to minimise and remove illegal content and protect children from harmful abuse. Major platforms will also need to address content which is legal but harmful for adults. Priority categories of legal but harmful content will be set out in legislation, and are likely to include racist abuse and some types of harassment. If platforms fail in their duties under the Bill, they will face tough enforcement action including fines of up to 10% of global annual qualifying turnover. The draft Bill has been subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee which reported its recommendations on 14 December. We are considering the Committee’s report and will introduce the Bill as soon as possible. The Government has also published an Online Media Literacy Strategy which supports the empowerment of users with skills and knowledge they need to make safe and informed choices online. This has an amplified focus on supporting users who are most vulnerable online, such as those who experience disproportionate amounts of online abuse.

BBC: Local Press

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the cost to the BBC of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Local Democracy Reporting Service is independently run by the BBC and funded through the licence fee. This information is therefore held by the BBC and not by the Department.

Publications: Retail Trade

Baroness Merron: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet the Booksellers Association to discuss ways to support small creative businesses.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Booksellers Association regularly engages at Ministerial level with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).On 15 July, BEIS published the Build Back Better High Streets Strategy, in which the Government committed to continue working with the retail sector, in particular the Retail Sector Council, on its long-term strategic needs to ensure that businesses are profitable, resilient, innovative, and able to support local economies in socially and environmentally responsible ways.More broadly, DCMS regularly engages with the creative industries, including the publishing sector, through the Creative Industries Council. I have also met individual booksellers, most recently The Bound in Whitley Bay on 29 January, to hear how the Government can best support small creative businesses.

Television Licences: Fees and Charges

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further tothe tweet by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 16 January where she stated that “this licence fee announcement will be the last”, whether they intend this to be the last time the BBC licence fee is renewed.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Government has committed to maintain the current licence fee funding model for the duration of this 11-year Charter period, i.e. until 2027.As the Secretary of State has made clear, we will be reviewing the licence fee funding model well in advance of the next Charter period.

Sports: Sex Discrimination

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking, alongside sporting bodies and associations, to combat sexism in sport.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: There is no place for sexism in sport. It is vital that sports bodies continue to work together to tackle it – and, indeed, discrimination of any kind.The Government is committed to ensuring that sport is inclusive and free from discrimination. Recent changes to the Code for Sports Governance mean that all sport organisations receiving public funding from either UK Sport or Sport England (including national governing bodies) are now required to develop a detailed and ambitious diversity and inclusion action plan. These plans should set out how they intend to improve diversity and inclusion across the whole of their organisation, not just at board level. The Code also now requires each funded sport to appoint a board member to lead on welfare and safety across the organisation.We have also established a working group on women’s sport, which the Minister for Sport chairs, to explore the challenges and opportunities in women’s sport, and meetings have focused on participation, visibility, and commercial investment. The Government also welcomes the work of organisations such as Women in Sport and Women in Football in challenging discrimination and breaking down inequalities between the sexes.

Television Licences: Fees and Charges

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to replace the BBC licence fee with a subscription service.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Government has committed to maintain the current licence fee funding model for the duration of this 11-year Charter period, i.e. until 2027.As the Secretary of State has made clear, we will be reviewing the licence fee funding model well in advance of the next Charter period.

Gambling: Advertising

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban gambling adverts in the UK.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Government is reviewing the Gambling Act to make sure it is fit for the digital age. As part of the broad scope of this review, we called for evidence on the potential benefits or harms caused by allowing licensed gambling operators to advertise and to make promotional offers. The call for evidence received approximately 16,000 submissions from a broad range of interested organisations and individuals. We are considering the evidence carefully and will publish a White Paper outlining conclusions and any proposals for reform in the coming months.

Internet: Safety

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to remove the two-year grace period included in the Online Safety Bill beforecriminal sanctions can be imposed onnamed technology executives.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Online Safety Bill will enable Ofcom to pursue criminal action against a named senior manager who fails to ensure that his or her company complies with Ofcom’s information requirements. As the Secretary of State made clear to the Joint Committee in December 2021, we are considering how we can bring this forward to commence as quickly as possible after Royal Assent. This will help to encourage strong compliance in the sector, and ensure that technology executives are held to account.

Ministry of Justice

Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal: Judges

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what sum the UK Supreme Court received from the government of Hong Kong in fees for UK judges sitting on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, and (4) 2020.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what sum was spent on airfares for UK judges sitting on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, and (4) 2020.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: Serving justices of the UK Supreme Court receive a salary and do not receive any additional fees when sitting on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal pays a fee to the UK Supreme Court. The table below provides details from 2017-2020:Calendar YearFee paid to the UK Supreme Court2017£11,935.082018£28,990.572019£31,913.702020£0 – no UKSC justices sat in 2020Airfares for UK Supreme Court justices who sit on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal are booked by and paid for by the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. As such, the UK Supreme Court holds no information about the costs. We do not have information about fees or travel expenses for retired UK judges who sit on the Court.